Try this recipe for sweet n’ salty bacon wrapped smokies for the ultimate party appetizer or game day snack!
Mini sausages are wrapped in bacon and coated in brown sugar to cook up juicy, crispy, and delicious.
Make a big batch and keep them coming, because these little darlings are always to first to disappear!
Easy Party Appetizer
- So delish! Everybody loves that magical combination of sweet, salty, and savory. Little smokies with bacon and brown sugar have it all in every flavorful bite!
- Multiple cooking methods! These versatile snacks can be cooked on the tailgate grill, in the oven, on the stovetop, or in the air fryer.
- Make-and-take little smokies, and you’ll be the most welcome guest at the party! Or, make ahead for easy party prep. Serve them from a Crockpot so guests can help themselves.
- Make ahead! Double or triple the recipe and store in the freezer for pop-in guests, or movie night with the family.
Just 3 Ingredients!
Sausages – Little Smokies are a brand of cocktail sausages made with smoked beef and pork that come prepackaged and precooked for maximum convenience. There are plenty of other mini sausages that can fit the bill as well such as chicken or turkey. Softer canned Vienna sausages are another option.
Bacon – Hickory smoked pork bacon is classic, but follow your preference. Maple smoked, and brown sugar bacon, and turkey bacon will work. Even thinly sliced ham, pancetta or other smoked meats will work. You might need to brush them with oil if your preferred choice has a low fat content.
Sugar – Brown sugar caramelizes well for that perfect pop of flavor. Or, you could try tossing in maple syrup for a layer of extra yum!
Variations – Leave off the sugar for keto followers, or go full carb with a wrap of crescent roll dough! Mix in a bit of this DIY taco seasoning for extra heat.
How to Make Bacon Wrapped Smokies
- Cut bacon strips into thirds, and drape over each sausage.
- Secure bacon with a toothpick, then roll in brown sugar.
- On a sheet pan, place in a single layer and bake until browned and crisp.
Sauces and Sides!
- Serve bacon wrapped little smokies with chips, pita triangles, or buttery Texas toast garlic bread and an array of zesty condiments such as honey mustard, bbq sauce, or sloppy joe sauce, with or without the ground beef.
- Present it along with other savory party snacks, like mini meatballs or bacon cream cheese bombs.
- To cut through all that richness, consider some veggie snacks too, like marinated mushrooms and oven baked zucchini.
Tips for Success
For easy party prep, assemble ahead and refrigerate or freeze on the baking pan. Or, precook and then wrap or cover in foil and just re-crisp in a preheated oven for about 5 – 7 minutes.
If cooking from frozen, add an extra 5 – 7 minutes to the baking time. Spear with a toothpick before baking to keep the bacon in place while the sausages cook. Place on the sheet pan with the bacon side up. Leftovers can be refrigerated for 3-4 days, or frozen for up to two months.
Amazing Appetizers!
Have you tried this recipe for Bacon Wrapped Smokies? Leave a comment and rating below!
Bacon Wrapped Smokies
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound bacon
- 1 pound little smokies
- ½ cup brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F and line a baking tray with foil.
- Cut the bacon into thirds. Wrap a piece of bacon around each little smokie, and secure with a toothpick.
- Roll each wrapped smokie in brown sugar to coat, then place on baking tray in a single layer.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until bacon is crisp.
Notes
-
- Refrigerate prepared bacon wrapped smokies on baking tray until ready to bake.
- Freeze on a parchment lined baking sheet in a single layer, then transfer to zippered freezer bags or containers once frozen. Store in frozen state for up to 2 months.
- To bake from frozen, add an additional 5-7 minutes to the bake time.
- Refrigerate leftovers for 3-4 days.
- To reheat leftovers, wrap in foil and reheat in the oven until warm.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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I made these for our Christmas brunch. Everyone loved them but I only gave four stars because to get the bacon crispy in the oven the bottoms of the sausages burned. My question is how to do this without the burned bottoms but still having crispy bacon. Also, how long to fry them in an air fryer if I go that route?
Hi Tammy, sorry this recipe wasn’t quite as expected! You could always broil the smokies for a bit to crisp up the bacon, but watch them carefully. For the air fryer, I would cook them at 375°F for 12-15 minutes, or until crispy (use parchment or a silicone liner for easy clean-up).